Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago Region to Host International Wind Powered Event

Alliant Energy’s sponsorship propelled dream into reality

Fond du Lac, Wis. – November 19, 2018

Thanks to a sponsorship from Alliant Energy, the World Ice and Snow Sailing Association (WISSA) World Championships are returning to the United States in February 2019.

For six days on Lake Winnebago on the shores of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, racers will join to share their passion for sailing on snow or ice. WISSA is the longest running international competition in the sport of windsurfing. Events powered by the wind will include course racing, slalom, speed racing, and freestyle for kites, sails, and wings. “We are a leader in leveraging renewable energy, such as solar and wind, to provide affordable local power to our customers. Celebrating these clean energy sources in an exciting fashion makes us a natural “wingman” in this event,” shares Dirk Mahling, Vice President of Technology and Strategy at Alliant Energy.

Ever focused on powering beyond current practices, Alliant Energy continues to invest in wind energy, now owning and operating six wind farms with six more in development. One of these farms, the Cedar Ridge Wind Farm, is located just south of Lake Winnebago in Fond du Lac County. The 41-turbine operation harnesses enough clean energy to power approximately 16,000 homes. Wind investments like these are helping Alliant Energy reach its goal of reducing carbon emissions 40 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

In tandem with WISSA’s World Championships, Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago Region will again host the Sturgeon Spectacular (www.fdl.com/ss) and Alliant Energy has stepped up to be the presenting sponsor of this event as well. Quickly becoming a winter tradition, Sturgeon Spectacular attracts thousands of visitors from across the Midwest to celebrate the mammoth fish species dating back 200 million years. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), lake sturgeon grow larger and live longer than any other fish in Wisconsin. In fact, the oldest on record was caught in Lake Winnebago at age 82 in 1953.

Since 1997, Alliant Energy has been part of an effort to increase the survival rate of lake sturgeon. Every spring, employees at the Kilbourn Dam near Wisconsin Dells help position 900-gallon water tanks on the dam platform. WDNR personnel use these tanks to harvest and fertilize 100,000-300,000 sturgeon eggs. In September, the young sturgeon hatched from these eggs are released into the Wisconsin River as well as other rivers across the state and country.

For more information about WISSA’s World Championships, visit www.wissa2019.com. To learn more about Alliant Energy’s community investments and innovative practices, read the 2018 Corporate Sustainability Report available at www.alliantenergy.com/sustainability. To learn more about Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago Region visit www.fdl.com.